The Cincinnati Bengals’ postseason hopes officially flatlined on Sunday - and they didn’t go quietly; they went scoreless. A 24-0 shutout loss to the Baltimore Ravens at Paycor Stadium not only ended Cincinnati’s playoff chances, but also marked the first time in Joe Burrow’s NFL career that he was blanked on the scoreboard. For the franchise, it was their first shutout since a 20-0 loss - also at the hands of Baltimore - back in 2017.
Head coach Zac Taylor didn’t mince words after the game. He took full responsibility for the offensive no-show, owning the playcalling and the lack of execution.
“That’s unacceptable,” Taylor said. “Never in a million years would I have seen that coming.”
But it did, and now the Bengals are left to pick up the pieces and figure out how it all went so wrong.
Let’s be clear - this wasn’t just a bad day. It was a complete unraveling of an offense that, even in a down year, still had enough firepower to avoid a goose egg.
But on Sunday, the Bengals managed just 4.2 yards per play and converted only six of their 20 third- and fourth-down opportunities. That’s not just inefficient - that’s drive-killing football.
Burrow, who’s been the face of this franchise’s resurgence, had a rough outing. He completed 25 of 39 passes for 225 yards, but two interceptions - including a brutal pick-six in the fourth quarter - sealed Cincinnati’s fate.
That second turnover came at the end of what had been the Bengals’ most promising drive of the afternoon. Burrow, under pressure near the goal line, tried to force one in.
Kyle Van Noy tipped it, and Alohi Gilman returned it 84 yards the other way. That was the final blow - not just in the game, but in a season that’s felt like a slow bleed since the early weeks.
Ja’Marr Chase was one of the few bright spots on offense - at least statistically. He hauled in 10 catches for 132 yards, but a couple of key drops stalled drives and added to the frustration.
Rookie running back Chase Brown flashed some versatility, totaling 90 yards from scrimmage (53 rushing, 37 receiving), and Samaje Perine chipped in, but the Bengals finished with just 63 rushing yards as a team. That’s not going to get it done, especially against a Ravens defense that thrives when it can force teams into one-dimensional play.
Defensively, there were moments of fight. Myles Murphy had one of his best games as a pro, racking up two sacks, three QB hits, and two tackles for loss.
Rookie linebacker Demetrius Knight Jr. made his presence felt with six tackles, two sacks, and a forced fumble. Jordan Battle came up with an interception off a tipped pass, and Cincinnati sacked Lamar Jackson four times - a season-high against the Ravens' elusive quarterback.
But Baltimore still found ways to punch through. Jackson tossed two touchdown passes in the first half - one to Rasheen Ali and another to Zay Flowers - and Derrick Henry looked like vintage King Henry, rumbling for 100 yards on just 11 carries.
That’s a staggering 9.1 yards per attempt - the kind of ground dominance that sets the tone and breaks spirits. A 27-yard field goal from Tyler Loop in the third quarter added to the cushion before Gilman’s pick-six turned the game into a rout.
Now sitting at 4-10, the Bengals are staring at their worst record since 2020. For a team that was in the Super Bowl hunt not long ago, it’s a jarring fall. The playoff drought now extends to three straight seasons, and with three games left - against the Dolphins, Cardinals, and Browns - the focus shifts to development, evaluation, and yes, draft positioning.
There’s still value in these final weeks. Young players like Murphy, Knight, and Battle are showing they can be part of the next core.
But for a team built around a franchise quarterback and a dynamic receiving corps, the expectations were much higher than this. Sunday’s shutout wasn’t just a loss - it was a wake-up call.
And the Bengals have some serious soul-searching to do before they hit reset in the offseason.